The Shows: Show Reports

New York International Gift Fair - New York City, New York (8/18/12 - 8/23/12)

August’s New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF) was an opportunity for the best new children’s products to be recognized for their creativity. This year, the focus seemed to be on natural materials, particularly wood. Wooden toys are making a comeback after years of being upstaged by rubber, plastic, and other synthetics. Original art is also trending at the moment, and makes an appearance in books and other learning supplies that feature the work of professional artists. Here are some of the innovative companies that caught The Giggle Guide’s™ attention at this year’s event: OOTS!, Tree by Kerri Lee, Black Eyed Guy, and Home Grown Books.

Playtime New York - New York, New York (8/4/12 - 8/6/12)

The Spring/Summer 2013 Playtime New York show, held August 4-6, 2012, proved a winner for all involved with 13% more visitors than the previous year’s Playtime event. 90 international brands, of which two-thirds were from the U.S., were on hand to strut their stuff and strut they did. Once again, Playtime New York brought together all key sectors of the children’s universe including clothing, shoes, accessories, jewelry, décor and gifts. With so much to offer, Playtime has positioned itself as a must-visit trade show. Here’s a peek at some of our favorites: Luna Leggings, Baby Baazaar, Cutility and Everbloom.

The Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market® - Atlanta, Georgia (7/11/12 - 7/18/12)

As a retailer, a huge part of your role is being on the cusp of trends in the children’s market. Sure, you can surf the Internet and read reviews, but it’s hard to tell what’s really new. This time, we’ve done the work for you! Or, Atlanta did. The Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market and Atlanta International Area Rug Market, held July 11-18 at AmericasMart Atlanta was a valuable venue for those who wanted to be in the know about what’s next for the kiddos. Here’s a taste of brands worthy of recognition: So Snaps, Pop Up Pals, Munch and BabyBedside.

Children's Club - New York, New York (3/11/12 - 3/13/12)

The Giggle Guide® catches up with Donita Fashion at Children’s Club in NYC.

All Baby & Child Spring Educational Conference - Las Vegas, Nevada (4/25/12 - 4/27/12)

The Giggle Guide® attended the 4th Annual ABC Spring Conference and Trade Show in Las Vegas, and we’re pleased to report that we heard no complaints about the event that provided an all-in-one combination of business education, trade show, networking and plenty of good food, fun and industry fellowship. Packed with informational seminars and plenty of opportunities to network, the streamlined trade show portion included 187 booths. This year’s event showcased a variety of new and returning baby and juvenile brands. A few head-turners included Notch, Ergobaby, guavakids and SnoozeShade.

Children's Club - New York, New York (3/11/12 - 3/13/12)

The ENK Fall 2012 Children’s Club, held at the Javit’s Center in New York City March 11-13, 2012, featured almost 700 exhibitors. Two new trends spotted were more Made in USA and eco-Friendly brands. There were over thirty-five companies on hand that make their merchandise in the USA; another fifty tout themselves as eco-friendly. Exhibitors reported that sales were up from the previous year, a good sign for all. Here are a few of the brands especially selected by The Giggle Guide’s Leesa Valentino who attended the Fall Children’s Club: Pipopipo, SugaPlum, Knitwits and Bambeeno.

Playtime New York - New York, New York (3/10/12 - 3/12/12)

The 4th edition of Playtime New York was held in March at 82 Mercer. Retailers are drawn to the cutting edge and modern selection of creative, exclusive and upscale merchandise that demands a setting that is different from traditional trade shows. Within an increasingly strong dynamic nourished by the international network of the Playtime trade fairs, this New York edition took place in an atmosphere that was stimulating and relaxing. Many fresh designers, including Neve Inspired, JUMINA, LOUANN and boy+girl previewed their fall/winter collections.

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